Kathakali dance drama, Kerala‘s most popular theatre form, is recognized as one of the four major classical Indian styles. The image of a Kathakali actor in a magnificent costume with extraordinary make-up and a huge gold crown has become Kerala’s trademark, seen on anything from matchboxes to TV adverts for detergents. Traditional performances, of which there are still many, usually take place on open ground outside a temple, beginning at 10pm and lasting until dawn, illuminated by...
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The northernmost of the Bahamian islands, The Abacos are sometimes called the “isles of the old-time Loyalists” because of their association with Tory expatriates fleeing the American Revolution. Located two hundred miles east of Miami and 75 miles north of Nassau, the Abacos stretch some two hundred miles in length, though they are rarely more than four miles wide at any point. even so, they remain the most accessible of all the Bahamian Out Islands, making them the chain’s...
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By car, by taxi, by motorcycle, by bike. Since Antigua is
so small, and there are few steep inclines, it is ideal cycling territory
Speedy and inexpensive buses and minibuses run to certain parts of the island, particularly between St John’s and English Harbour on the south coast and along the west coast between St John’s and Old Road, although none goes to the big tourist area of Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay.
By car
If you want to tour around, you’re invariably better...
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Since many people simply walk to their destinations, getting around Paradise Island is quite easy
Almost all visitors to Paradise Island arrive through Nassau International Airport, though in 1989 the Paradise Island Airport was opened: a small-jet port serving commuter airlines, which will soon be expanding to accommodate larger planes.
Almost all visitors to Paradise Island arrive through Nassau International Airport, though in 1989 the Paradise Island Airport was opened: a small-jet port...
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Shoal Bay
One of the region’s greatest beaches, big enough that you’ll find your own quiet spot away from the crowds, and dotted with several good restaurants.
Scilly Cay
Take the ferry out to this tiny island and snack on tasty fresh lobster, grilled for you right by the beach.
There is no public transportation system, so you’ll need to rent a car if you want to explore the island.
Options include:
Most of the rental companies are based in The Valley, but will...
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Half a kilometer past Cheers and 300m off the Western Highway is the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a 44-square-kilometer protected area
Half a kilometer past Chevers and 300m off the Western Highway is the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a 44-square-kilometer protected area extending to the Sibun river, which offers birding and nature trails through five distinct types of vegetation and habitat. Adjoining the sanctuary is the Monkey Bay National Park, enclosing a biological corridor which runs...
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A sliver of dense greenery sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the forested Western Ghat mountains, the state of Kerala runs down the southwest coast of India, around 550km long and 120km wide at its broadest point. It is blessed with unique geographical and cultural features and the overpowering tropical landscape, with 41 rivers and countless waterways, fed by two annual monsoons, seduces every newcomer. Equally, Kerala’s arcane rituals and spectacular festivals stimulate even the...
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House swapping is a vacation alternative where you allow someone else to stay in your home while you stay in theirs on a temporary or more permanent basis. Although its origins stem from low-cost vacation accommodation and are believed to date back to 1953, there has been an increase in house swapping due to the slow-down in the United States real estate market.
A house swap holiday may also include a car exchange. Some estimates indicate that 15-20% of travelers are participating in some form...
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Occupying the coast west of Santo Domingo and taking its name from the major city at its center, the Barahona Region was once the focus of Trujillo’s personal sugar empire.
Vast tracts of cane still take up much of the land north of Barahona city, but today this is one of the country’s poorest regions.
As a result, the stunning Barahona coastline is almost completely undeveloped, making it perfect for independent travelers willing to rough it a bit in exchange for unblemished...
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Tourists pour into Barbados from all over the world, drawn by the delightful climate, the big blue sea and brilliant white sandy beaches. Many of them rarely stray far from their hotels and guesthouses, but those who make an effort find a proud island scattered with an impressive range of historic sites and, away from the mostly gently rolling landscape, dramatic scenery in hidden caves, cliffs and gullies.
For more than three centuries Barbados was a British colony and retains something of a...
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